Olympics, The Mega Sporting Meet (Poem)

"It is the inspiration of the Olympic Games that drives people not only to compete but to improve, and to bring lasting spiritual and moral benefits to the athlete and inspiration to those lucky enough to witness the athletic dedication."

— Herb Elliot

Rio Olympics 2016

It’s time for the upcoming Olympic Games which is to begin on 5th Aug 2016 and will culminate on 21st Aug 2016. This is going to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which has the landmark statue of Jesus Christ known as Christ the Redeemer. It is the 31st Olympiad.

In this mega event the participant countries will be 206/207 in which the new entrants are South Sudan and Kosovo. Almost 11,000 athletes will take part in it and there will be 306 sporting events in 28 sports categories. The opening and closing ceremony of Rio Olympics 2016 will be held at the Maracana Stadium which is a famous football stadium. This will be the beginning of the second innings of Golf that means after 112 years Golf will be once again played in Rio. Even Rugby sevens will make a debut in this season.

India and Rio Olympic Games 2016

Indian contingent will consist of 120 athletes. The flag bearer will be Abhinav Bindra, the Olympic gold medallist shooter. It will be his 5th Olympic Games. India is proud to have world famous tennis player Leander Paes whose it will be the 7th Olympic Games. Indian women’s hockey team will be a part of Rio Olympics after 36 years. There is another moment of glory for India in this sporting event is the participation of Dutee Chand in 100m race. It is first after PT Usha’s 1980 Olympic participation.

Let’s see what this mega event has in store for India. The contingent is a big one and the experts are eyeing that this time India would reach a double digit in medal tally. There are many experienced athletes among the Indian participants so Indians can hope for a power packed performance from their contingent.

All the luck to India and to rest of the participants too!

The Olympic Flag

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“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.”

— Pierre de Coubertin

Olympic Torch 2016

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Vinicius,the Mascot of 2016 Games

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Indian Prime Minister with the Indian Contingent

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Facts about Olympics

Every nation loves to cheer

The biggest sports fever:

It's the Olympic Games

A dream of all the athletes.

Olympics rooted in Greece

It's now the global sports meet

Every four year it takes place

At a new venue as its host.

Olympic symbols:

Motto, Flame and Rings

Represent the values of Olympics

Exhibit world’s sporting ‘excellence’,

Extend ‘friendship’ from one continent to another,

Convey ‘respect’ for each other.

The Olympic Flag contains

Five interlocking coloured rings

Symbolising all the five continents.

Rings are of the colours

Blue, yellow, black, green and red

On a white background

Defines at least one among the six colours

That’s common in all the national flags.

Olympic Motto based on Olympic creed

Encourages a strong competition until the end

Matters the most and not just success.

Three Latin words:

CITIUS, ALTIUS and FORTIUS

Utter the Motto of Olympics

In English it cites:

SWIFTER, HIGHER and STRONGER

Those make the Olympic event a pleasure.

Olympia in Greece,

The origin city of Olympics,

Is always privileged to be the first to lit the Flame

Months before the Olympic Games

Only by the rays of the sun

This ‘Flame’ in a torch, then on

Gets carried and relayed

Until it reaches the host stadium

That’s where at opening ceremony

Last runner lights the cauldron

It then remains lightened

Till the Games reach its end.

The Father of the modern Games:

Baron Pierre de Coubertin,

A French citizen

In 1896 brought sports and athletics

Under a global banner called the Olympics.

The medals given are gold, silver and bronze

All have an image of Goddess Nike

The Greek Goddess of Victory

But, Mascot offers a nice change

With a new one in every Olympic

That promises to present

A warm global view of a sports meet

And, participants rise to the occasion

To sport the true spirit of the mega event.

London Olympics 2012

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Indian Contingent for the London Olympics 2012

India has sent 142 members to the 2012 Olympics in London. This includes:

Athletes --- 81

Coaches --- 36

Managers --- 4

Medical Staff --- 8

‘P’ category officials --- 6

Contingent Officials --- 7

India is going to participate in 13 sports disciplines while in total there are 302 events in 26 sports. In the last Olympics held in 2008, Beijing India had sent 57 members and participated in 12 sporting events. Among the 81athletes 58 are men and 23 are women. In totality there are 10,000 athletes among which 4,847 are women. Ajit Pal Singh is the Chef de Mission for the Indian contingent but due to some little illness he is having some problem in performing his duties. The acting Chef de Mission is Brig P.K. Muralidharan Raja.

Indian Impact

The Olympic Flame that relays within the different cities from Olympia, Greece to the Olympic Stadium, London comes across the hands of many big celebrities. Among such big personalities one name is Amitabh Bachchan who runs with the Olympic torch in London’s Southwark district a day before the opening ceremony of the Olympics 2012 in London.

AR Rahman, the music maestro from India, has got an opportunity to team up with Danny Boyle, the director of Oscar–recipient Slumdog Millionaire.

Indian contingent has a group of police sportspersons. There are 10 police sportspersons in the Indian contingent who are representing various sports. Men and women both are included among the 10 police sportspersons. They are 4 boxers, 2 wrestlers, 2 hockey players, 1 weightlifter and also an athlete.

London Chapter is Over

In comparison to the population of the country the contingent to the Olympic Games is very small. But, the best part is by every Olympic event the size of the Indian contingent is increasing. This is definitely a good sign. The number of women athletes has increased too. Though the Indian contingent is not big but some names are quite experienced and big in the sporting arena. They are Saina Nehwal, Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupatti, Sania Mirza, Abhinav Bindra, Vijendra Singh, Sushil Kumar, Mary Kom and few more. There are some new faces too to the Olympics but they had achieved some great feats in Commonwealth Games and World Championship so they raise a hope. The interesting combination of grand slam winners, major tournament winners and world ranking number one along with inexperience and wild card entry are to be keenly watched.

Time to Enjoy 2016 Olympics

Hope this time India leaves a great mark in the Rio Olympics 2016! After every Olympics it's a new beginning for the athletes who work hard for the next four years eyeing the next meet. So, no more talking about London Olympics 2012 but it's time for Rio to have a splendid show of all the athletes.

The Mascot Vinicius is a combination of all the animals of Brazil. The name of the mascot of Rio Games 2016 is a tribute to the Brazilian musician Vinicius de Moraes. It will be fun to watch the mega meet.

Shampa, this is a wonderful poem and you have told the entire history of olympics in this well worded poem.

Voted up and beautiful.

Author

Shampa Sadhya 5 years agofrom NEW DELHI, INDIA

Hello Lightshare,

Thanks a lot for adding an interesting comment to my article. It 's true that Olympic 2012 has excelled in woman power be it in controversy too. Loved and enjoyed your comment. Thanks for liking and praising it.

Author

Shampa Sadhya 5 years agofrom NEW DELHI, INDIA

Hello teaches 12345,

It is really great to receive some nice comments from you. Thanks a lot for reading and appreciating.

Author

Shampa Sadhya 5 years agofrom NEW DELHI, INDIA

Hello IntegrityYes,

Thanks a lot for your votes and praise.

Lightshare 5 years ago

Nice poem Shampasadhya. The most noted thing in 2012 Olympics is ladies. Every participating country has at least one women candidate. Natalie Cook who refused to walk behind a male contestant in flag march past; and the unknown fair lady who got everyone's attention in the Indian march past etc. -)

Dianna Mendez 5 years ago

This is such a nice tribute to the olympics and the champions who compete. Nice reference to history within the poem and the traditions.

IntegrityYes 5 years ago

I voted up! That is great,Shampa!

Author

Shampa Sadhya 5 years agofrom NEW DELHI, INDIA

Hello Mhatter99,

Thanks for the praise. It means a lot.

Author

Shampa Sadhya 5 years agofrom NEW DELHI, INDIA

Hello Ruchira,

Thanks a lot. Your comment is very special. The basic history of Olympics make it very special. That's the reason I tried to give a poetic touch to its extraordinary facts and figures. Thanks for liking, voting and sharing it.

Few days ago I wrote an article on 3 D's. I would like you to go through it because of the beginning of the article. See it for yourself. Thanks again..

Martin Kloess 5 years agofrom San Francisco

You did it! congratulations

Ruchira 5 years agofrom United States

awesome poem, Shampa.

What better way can an indian athlete be inspired than reading your beautiful poem.